September 23-30, 2023 (Hybrid)
Sesshins (Zen meditation retreats held in silence and seclusion) are offered about once a month at the Rochester Zen Center. They vary in length from two to seven days.
What to Know Before Applying to Sesshin
Sesshins are rigorous, demanding a great deal of the sitter….
October 5-26 (Hybrid)
Our next Term Intensive (TI) runs October 5 – 26, 2023. The Term Intensive offers us a supportive structure in which to extend our practice efforts for a set period of time. Participants pledge to uphold a schedule of increased sitting and, if they wish, other aspects of discipline that relate directly or indirectly to…
Tuesday October 10 (In-person)
On Tuesday, October 10, the zendo and adjoining areas will be set up for the annual ceremony honoring Bodhidharma, the “bearded barbarian” who founded Zen in China. Beginning at 7 p.m., we’ll sit for two short rounds, and the ceremony will follow (no dokusan, private instruction, or group instruction that night). Beginners: Come check out…
Saturday October 14 (In-person)
Workshops at the Center: A Practical Introduction to Zen Throughout the year the Rochester Zen Center offers both in-person and online introductory meditation workshops taught either by Sensei John Pulleyn (pronounced “puh-leen“) or Sensei Dhara Kowal, along with senior students. Because getting started in Zen practice isn’t as simple as attending a new church on…
Sunday October 22 (Hybrid)
Daily sittings are great, but an extended sitting is a chance to wade further into the waters of zazen. You’ll get a break from stress, a taste of a sesshin day, and maybe even a new perspective on your mind and life. Besides the usual sitting that will run from 8:30 to around 10:30, there…